If you are one of those women, who since you have passed that half century mark have found yourself putting on weight or suffering from the dreaded middle-aged spread, the chances are that you would welcome some suggestions on how to appear slimmer.
Five Fashion Tips for Looking Slimmer
There are ways, with some clever dressing, where you can fool the eye into thinking that you have dropped at least a dress size. It is not as difficult as you may think.
Buy a Supportive, Correctly Fitting Bra
As you get older your breasts have a tendency to sag, and the simple act of lifting them higher up your torso gives the illusion of a longer (and slimmer) upper body. Invest in a good supportive bra that lifts up your bust, thereby creating a wider expanse between your bustline and stomach. Make sure your bra actually fits: more than 80% of women in the UK actually wear the wrong size bra, according to Bravissimo.com. The most common mistake is wearing a bra that is too large in the body and too small in the cup. Plus, if you don't have a bodyshaper in your closet, then now is the time to think about investing in one, these not only slim in seconds but improve your posture as well.
Dress in the Same Color Family
Wearing separates in the same (or similar) color palette will instantly slim you down, especially if you choose darker shades (this does not necessarily mean black). Avoid being too matchy, matchy: simply co-ordinate hues that belong to the same, or almost the same, color family. The idea is that you are creating a column of color that will slim down your silhouette. Play with texture to give your outfit an extra lift. Colors such as teal blue and fuchsia pink look especially good (and dramatic) on older women.
Wear Structured Fabrics
Women over 50 should go for more tailored pieces in firm, structured fabrics that offer support. These are more slimming than clingy (unforgiving) materials or flimsy fabrics that show up every lump and bump.
The same applies to swimwear too. Investing money on a structured swimsuit that offers you support, will hold you in in all the right places, lift your bust and hide figure flaws such as a large stomach. Personally, I have a whole collection of Miraclesuit swimsuits (that claim to give the illusion of taking off 10lbs), which I have purchased from a popular auction site, much cheaper than the original retail price! Having reached the half century mark myself, a swimsuit such as a Miraclesuit, which offers good support, is one item in my wardrobe that I wouldn’t be without.
Wear Print Wisely
A vertical (or diagonal) print will always give the illusion of a longer body, thereby making you look slimmer. Horizontal stripes are best avoided as these can make your body appear wider. Choosing a subtle print in a neutral shade (or in the same color palette) is sophisticated and really flatters the older woman. However, large rounded patterns do nothing to help you take off the pounds, although a busy print can act as a slimming optical illusion. Women with large frames should avoid tiny prints, whilst the opposite is true for those with petite figures.
Choose Styles with Sleeves
Many of the most fashionable dresses available in the shops are either sleeveless or have a small cap sleeve, but as you get older you may be less inclined to show off your arms, especially if you suffer from bingo wings. A cropped or three-quarter sleeve is very flattering and will slim down your upper body as it stops at the thinnest part of your arm, thereby also accentuating your wrist. Recently, in the UK there has been a campaign by Prima magazine, backed by celebrities such as Helen Mirren, entitled “A Call to Arms”, which is pressurizing retailers to sell more dresses and tops with sleeves especially for older women. Since its launch in June 2010, this campaign seems to be having an impact, with High Street giants such as Marks and Spencer sitting up and taking note. There are also dedicated websites, such as Stylish Arms and Armed and Glamorous that specifically feature clothing with sleeves, and Fiftyplus, which caters especially for women's fashion over 50.
Finally, if all else fails my fall back option is accessories. A long scarf, an oversized necklace or a wow bangle can do wonders in distracting the eye from problem areas when you are a just having one of those 50+ "fat" days!
Sources:
- "Dress Yourself Slim," Instyle magazine (UK) February 2010.
- "How to Banish Bingo Wings," Fiftyisnotafourletterword.com
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
